Tell me about Citizenship GCSE. Which is apparently compulsory at my DD's school. She doesn't want to do it.

[bellinisurge]

As it says in the subject, Citizenship GCSE has now been deemed compulsory at my DD's school. She would prefer to do Triple Science but doesn't want to lose a free space in her GSCE options to do it. She deliberately didn't go to a faith school (despite being in a feeder primary) to avoid having RE GCSE forced on her.
Any suggestions?

We have Life Skills and an RE lesson rather than Citizenship

Schools are different. They have different length days, different hours allocated to core and options.
IME schools with stronger incoming cohorts devote less time to core maths and English and use this to create an extra option block.

IME most schools now offer 8 GCSEs.

If most schools only offer 8 GCSES, that's different. Waiting for posters to confirm this.

We could do with some KS4 teachers on this thread.

I don't recall DD having to do computing in years 10 and 11.

Some schools do a 3 year KS4
Some schools have a higher base of skills and allocate less time to core subjects.
Some schools have longer tutor times and cover it there or in assemblies.
Some schools set more homework.
Some schools go at a faster pace so allocate less time across all subjects.
Some schools do less core PE.
Some schools no doubt ignore the requirements.

All schools look to do the best they can for their own cohort of pupils within the constraints of what teachers they have available to them and what the government & ofsted expects

How many GCSEs will your daughter actually get to choose?

For my DD she was only able to freely choose 2 options. I understand your frustration at the situation, and I also offered my DD the opportunity to switch schools in Year 9 to give her more freedom, but it's not unusual, it's just a case of different schools choosing different compulsory options.

You can say virtually any GCSE subject outside of English and Maths is irrelevant depending on your child's interests and aspirations. I don't think for one minute, for instance that my DD is ever going to find a use for being able to calculate the gravitational potential energy of football, but shit happens and that's the box she has to tick because science is a compulsory subject.

I work in a secondary school and as frustrating as this stuff is from a parental POV I cannot even begin to describe the amount of thought and work that goes into designing the GCSE programmes offered, and don't even get me started on the timetabling...it takes our Deputy Head around 6 months to finalise it every year.

They don't put these parameters in to make life difficult for students or parents.

That said, you seem to be determined to dig your heels in on this one, despite various posters stating that in any schools there are limits to what options are available.

Citizenship GCSE is not a 'guaranteed A grade' for the non academic or those that can't be arsed. It's a GCSE with the same intrinsic value as any other subject at the end of the day, and it will be as beneficial or otherwise as the student taking the subject makes it.

The constant whining about Citizenship being and 'easy' and worthless subject is also pretty offensive. There are plenty of girls, including my DD, in her Citizenship class who are top set across the board with multiple A/A* predicted grades, who have chosen the subject with aspirations towards Oxbridge and a future career in politics or law.

For reference:

www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/citizenship/gcse/citizenship-studies-8100

All schools look to do the best they can for their own cohort of pupils within the constraints of what teachers they have available to them and what the government & ofsted expects
This

I know how hard timetabling is. As for "whining ", I'm trying to get a picture as to how common this is. I'm not getting that. Several lectures on how important non gcse citizenship is, though. Thanks .
My dd also wants to do a technical GCSE if she can so be as offended as you like but don't assume I'm saying it's all about academic subjects.

Great post @MintyCedric.

DD took 10 GCSEs

Compulsory:
Maths
English language
English literature
Science
Citizenship

Optional:
Everything else

Those who took double science had four options to choose from, and those who took triple science had three options to choose from. DD took triple scince then chose geography, history and art.

How can you know how hard timetabling is but not understand that your dd isn't being "deprived" of another GCSE? You clearly don't understand timetabling, that's precisely the point.

There's teacher tapp research somewhere into options subjects, I'll see if I can find it

"If most schools only offer 8 GCSES, that's different. Waiting for posters to confirm this."

Having done an extremely thorough review of secondary schools in this Borough and the next - city - so big sample. I can tell you that my non scientific analysis is that most schools round here offer min 9 GCSEs, most 10, some 11 or 12 if doing English Baccaleureate. FE progression is usually based on best 8 results, schools are assessed for value added on best 8. Some schools have pathways for doing 5 -8 GCSEs for less able bands of students or those wanting to do vocational qualifications simultaneously. It is unusual to have less than 2 option slots, usually it is 3.

FWIW

Ihate is that recent? 10-12 sounds more like 'old' GCSE system rather than the new one to me.

OP, you school is offering 9 isn't it?

OP schools usually send a little options diagram, have you got that? How many choices will your DD have?

Also depends how you're counting GCSEs. Eg some places count double science as 2 or English lit and lang as 2.

We do
Maths
English (lang for all and lit for most able)
Science (double for all, triple is an option)
Citizenship
History or Geography
Option 1
Option 2

After school option of Stats or dance.

2 options (ish) -Maths, English, Science (double), Spanish, History or Geography, Citizenship: all compulsory.

schools are assessed for value added on best 8
Not strictly true, the best 8 has to include certain subjects.

My dd has 10 but one is BTEC PE and another is only offered to top set maths and is optional.

8 is plenty for uni or Sixth Form. You can check the gcse requirements online for those

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation - still true, just layman's quick version. More restriction/less choice.
@TeenPlusTwenties - absolutely current. DCs in Y6/9/11 (all going to different schools, as it goes)

I'd be more annoyed that Spanish is compulsory than citizenship.

8 is plenty of course for FE - but for purposes of rounded education and enjoyment, more is better. Though it is more pressure, and at DCs schools they want everyone excelling at everything, unrealistically.

Shock horror @HercwasanEnemyofEducation , I have a different opinion. I'm ok with an MFL

My dd also wants to do a technical GCSE if she can so be as offended as you like but don't assume I'm saying it's all about academic subjects.

Usually triple science is taken by academic students so it's not unreasonable to assume that your dd wants triple rather than double because she is academic and enjoys science.
(Saying that I am aware that DT is popular with kids who might go into engineering sort of careers )

Eg some places count double science as 2 or English lit and lang as 2

As far as I know all schools count English language and English literature as separate subjects, and double science as two subjects. They are listed as separate subjects on GCSE certificates. Well, I'm sure double science is, but as DD took triple science her science subjects are listed as chemistry, biology and physics.

I teach GCSE Citizenship so I am completely bias. It teaches essential skills needed for further education any subjects they take. It’s compulsory in my school. A lot of people don’t realise how academic it is, I always have parents asking why their child has to do a pointless subject 🤷🏻‍♀️

They encourage 9 at dds academic indie. 10 if you are very clever and able to balance workload and extra curricular. No btecs, no citizenship, no business studies, PE etc gcses, just very traditional academic subjects.